Press release
AeroVironment Awarded $4.8 Million Contract for ROVs to Support U.S. Coast Guard Modernization Plan
Mission Specialist Defender ROVs enhance Coast Guard subsurface response while reducing diver risk and improving safety and readiness. POTTSTOWN,
About this update from Aerovironment, Inc.
[{"type":"text","content":"\nMission Specialist Defender ROVs enhance Coast Guard subsurface response while reducing diver risk and improving safety and readiness.\n\n POTTSTOWN, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--\nAeroVironment, Inc. (“AV”) (NASDAQ: AVAV), a leading provider of underwater robotic systems, today announced it has been awarded a $4.8 million United States Coast Guard contract through its wholly owned subsidiary, VideoRay, to deliver Mission Specialist Defender remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) as part of the Service’s Force Design 2028 modernization initiative.\nThis press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251211436282/en/The Mission Specialist Defender Remotely Operated Vehicle is a powerful, modular underwater system built for precision, payload capacity, and mission adaptability.\nThe Defender will enhance the Coast Guard’s maritime response capabilities by enabling rapid underwater inspections, pier inspections, hull assessments, subsurface infrastructure surveys, disaster response and search and rescue operations in challenging environments—reducing diver risk while increasing mission safety, operational efficiency, and fleet readiness.\n\n“The selection of the Mission Specialist Defender reinforces our ability to deliver proven technology to address the most demanding defense and security missions,” said Chris Gibson, Chief Executive Officer at VideoRay. “Customers have come to depend on VideoRay when failure is not an option. As AV’s maritime pillar, we’re proud to contribute to the organization’s all-domain uncrewed systems strategy to ensure the safety and security of our forces.”\n\nAs part of Force Design 2028, the Coast Guard established the Robotics and Autonomous Systems (RAS) Program Executive Office to rapidly integrate unmanned and robotic technologies across all missions, including investments in robotics and autonomous systems designed to build a more agile, technology-enabled, and globally ready force for the evolving maritime domain.\n\nAV’s $4.8 million award—the largest award of the $11 million executed in fiscal year 2025 for rapid autonomous fleet upgrades—will strengthen Coast Guard operations with proven, advanced maritime robotics. The selection of the Mission Specialist Defender builds on the company’s expanding track record with U.S. and allied defense custome...